Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-06
Mr.. Davis on the flags.

Mr.. Jefferson Davis has written the fol-
lowing letter in reference to the return Of
the Southern battle flags -
If the object now be to unite the peo-
pie OF the North and South as brethren
IN the Union, as means to that end every
sign OF past conflict should, as far as prac-
tlcaeie, be obliterated.- To retain as q
point OF pride flag captured in battle by
either the Union or Confederate soldiers
would Dc equivalent to renewed exultation
OF triumph by one or the other, and surely
not step toward the restoration of peace.
Inc nags captured from foreign enemy
may De retained as trophies after peace,
put mere cessation Of hosilities is not
pretended to be the equivalent to frater-
nization. have heard of various Instances
in which Southern soldiers having retained
flags captured in battle did, after the war.
send them back to the organization from
which they were captured, and 1 have
heard OF no instance where such trouble
has been displayed at reunion of South
ern soldiers to manifest their success in
battle over their Northern brethren. Our
men fought for a principle, and that they
have not surrendered, but rather hopeless.
ly lived to see the good sense of the North.
ern men revert to the teachings of their
sires and re-estblish the government &C.
cording to the Constitution on which
it was founded. That is the only victory
which would be to them and to theil
children thing to be priced and glorified
When the Confederate government evacu
ated Richmond many flags captured in bat
tie were deposited in the war Office in
Richmond. So far as know they wore
all left there and found by the United
States troops when they entered the city.
This would at least exhibit proof of the
fact that the south did not wish to treasure
up such evidence of any triumphs it ever
had over the north. When Washington
received the surrender of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown he required the British colors to
be delivered to him in cases. The United
States government presented those flags
to Gen. Washington, and he left them to
George Washington Parke Gusts, by
whom they were entrusted to me when
was Secretary of War, and left in the war
Office at Washington. Though these were
foreign flags, and signs of very memo
rable occasion, the then United States gov.
ment did not deem them Of sufficient i'm
portant to be exhibited as trophies of a
victory over . former enemy, but present
ed them to the soldier to whom they had
surrendered. The south has manifested
no desire to have possession of the flags
lost in battle; their value departed when
they were surrendered. and the excitement
which has been created over the proposition
to return both to the north and south the
flags they had lost in battle seems very like
tempest in a teapot. Whether they
should lie and be consumed by moth in
boxes of the United States war Office or be
returned 10 their former owners has one
element of value, which is that the restora.
ton would be declaration, such as the
old Romans made, that there should be nc
triumph for victory won in civil war;
So far as it should express the feeling Of
restored fraternity, it would be an advance
toward that condition which all reasonable
men will recognize as desirable among
those who are to live together.